Lake Gairdner Lake

Address: Lake Gairdner, South Australia (outback access)

Admission: No entrance fee to the lake; access is by four-wheel drive on station tracks - check local regulations

Lake Gairdner is a large ephemeral salt lake in inland South Australia noted for its extensive salt pans and stark arid surroundings. The lake lies in a remote, sparsely populated portion of the state and is primarily a geomorphological feature rather than a developed recreational site.

The broad, flat playa is of interest for landscape photography, scientific study of salt-flat processes, and for visitors prepared for remote travel. There are no major settlements on the lake and road access is limited, so visits require planning and suitable vehicles.

The basin sits within South Australia’s interior; it is surrounded by low scrubland and pastoral country and lies far from the state’s major coastal cities.

• Salt-pan landscape: Characterised by broad salt flats and a dry lakebed in an arid interior setting, making it visually striking but remote and largely undeveloped for tourism.

Lake Gairdner lies off the Stuart Highway west of Port Augusta and is reached by outback tracks requiring a high-clearance 4x4. Visitors should plan for long distances and limited services.

• Lake Gairdner is remote and best visited with a sturdy 4x4 and adequate supplies; cell coverage is nil in many spots.
• The salt flats are brilliant at dawn and dusk for photography; mid-day glare can be intense - bring polarised eyewear.
• Do not attempt to drive on the salt crust near the lake's centre; the surface can be deceptive and dangerous.